Our Mission

A Vision for all California

The California Environmental Dialogue (CED) envisions strong, vibrant dialogue on critical environmental policy issues and
long term environmental strategies that impact all Californians.

Originally inspired by the Aspen Institute, CED seeks to move California beyond traditional zero-sum politicking. The core of CED is trust, collaboration, consensus, and relationships. As a forum for candid dialogue—a structured way of talking and listening—CED builds relationships and trust to reach beyond a history of adversarial environmental regulation.

Trust and consensus allow CED to speak credibly for improving private and public environmental policy with an unexpected collective voice. In California’s diverse society, innovative and efficient environmental solutions require support from diverse interests. To develop innovations and broad support, we engage diverse interests in a rigorous dialogue—a process of listening for common ground. Dialogue does not hide conflict. It is listening and speaking in ways that encourage understanding, new thinking, and cooperation.